Politics
Utah abortion politics intensifies as gender divides deepen over courts, representation
A brewing conflict over abortion, judicial appointments, and women's representation in Utah has exposed deepening gender divides in the state's politics, The New York Times reports. The tensions center on how the Republican supermajority legislature and conservative advocacy groups have responded to court rulings on abortion access.
September 13, 2026 at 3:27 AM MT · via The New York Times · 3 sources
Utah Valley University gets 'F' in free speech rankings after Kirk shooting
Utah Valley University received a failing grade in a national free speech ranking, with analysts citing the "chilling effect" that persists following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on campus, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression downgraded the university significantly in its annual campus speech climate assessment.
September 12, 2026 at 12:02 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune
Spencer Cox called a Democrat for help after Charlie Kirk's killing
Utah Governor Spencer Cox reveals in his new book that he called a Democratic colleague for advice in the hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The disclosure appears in Cox's book *Off Ramp*, which examines his "disagree better" campaign and his role navigating the national crisis.
September 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 2 sources
Turning Point navigates first year after Charlie Kirk assassination
Turning Point USA has spent the year since founder Charlie Kirk's assassination attempting to hold together a conservative movement fractured by his death, according to the Salt Lake Tribune's analysis.
September 10, 2026 at 9:02 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 9 sources
Utah governor Spencer Cox appears on 'The Daily Show' with Jon Stewart
Utah Governor Spencer Cox appeared on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" to discuss his new book about civil discourse and disagreeing constructively in polarized times. Stewart pressed Cox on whether his calls for disagreeing better hold up when applied to specific controversial policies.
September 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Supreme Court justice recuses himself from abortion case after initial refusal
A Utah Supreme Court justice reversed his decision and recused himself from a major abortion case after initially refusing to step aside, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The justice had faced questions about whether his religious affiliation should require recusal from the case challenging Utah's abortion trigger law.
September 9, 2026 at 7:03 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 2 sources
Arizona governor's race features two LDS candidates as members weigh loyalty
Arizona's 2026 governor's race has become a test case for Latter-day Saint political identity, with both major-party candidates openly identifying as members of the Church. Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs and Republican challenger Andy Biggs are both practicing Latter-day Saints, forcing a heavily LDS electorate in parts of Arizona to weigh party allegiance against shared religious identity in a race that has turned unusually personal.
September 7, 2026 at 7:02 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 3 sources
Tradwife author: sainting Charlie Kirk serves Christian patriarchy
A year after Utah politician Charlie Kirk's death, former tradwife author Tia Levings writes that the growing mythology around Kirk serves the interests of Christian patriarchy rather than the young women drawn to his ideals. Levings, who left a fundamentalist marriage and has written about purity culture and submission theology, argues that hagiography of male leaders reinforces systems that harm women.
September 4, 2026 at 6:03 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune
Tyler Robinson will stand trial for murder of Utah politician Charlie Kirk
Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the murder of Charlie Kirk, a Utah politician, according to Utah Public Radio. A judge ruled there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial following a preliminary hearing.
September 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM MT · via upr.org · 2 sources
John Curtis emerges as Republican to watch in closely divided Senate
Utah Senator John Curtis, who won Mitt Romney's seat in 2024, is drawing attention as a potential dealmaker in a narrowly divided Senate. The Deseret News profiles Curtis's bipartisan approach and his willingness to work across the aisle on issues like climate policy and immigration reform.
September 3, 2026 at 5:02 AM MT · via Deseret News
Salt Lake City memorializes lynched former slave after state resistance
Salt Lake City has erected a memorial to a former slave who was lynched on Utah's Capitol Hill after state leaders resisted such recognition, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. The memorial addresses a long-overlooked chapter of Utah history involving racial violence in the territorial period. The city acted independently after efforts to secure a state-level memorial were unsuccessful, the Tribune reports.
September 3, 2026 at 3:53 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune
Podcast examines Mitt Romney's rise and the 'Mormon Moment' in politics
Church History Matters Podcast released an episode examining Mitt Romney's political career and what it revealed about Latter-day Saints in American politics. The 48-minute discussion with guest Matt Waldrip covers LDS political involvement over time, biases against the Church, and Romney's impeachment votes.
September 1, 2026 at 8:03 PM MT · via YouTube / Church History Matters Podcast